The Human Rights Commision of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) refers to the peaceful assembly being
planned by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih), scheduled for 9 July 2011, and
also to those reportedly planned by UMNO Youth & Perkasa, and reiterates its position that it
is the right of members of the public to assemble and to express their views in a peaceful
manner, as provided under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, as well as Article
20(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The Commission recalls the recommendations it had made in the past for the Government to
respect the freedom of assembly, as contained in, among others, its Annual Reports to
Parliament, as well as its requests for the repeal of of sub-sections (2), (2A)-(2D),(4),(4A),
(5),(5A)-(5C),(7) and (8) of Section 27 and Section 27A of the Police Act 1967, and its
recommendation that where the Police finds it necessary to control or disperse a crowd
during an assembly, proportionate and nonviolent methods should be employed.
The Commission calls on the authorities to allow the planned peaceful assemblies to be held,
and on the parties intending to hold these assemblies to exercise their rights in a peaceful
and responsible manner. The Commission shall duly monitor the event.
- end -
TAN SRI HASMY AGAM
Chairman
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
28 June 2011
